By JAKE SUTERA,
J Camp Live! Staff

Geoffrey Philp quoted one of his many writing influences, and the tone of his voice deepened, displaying the dedication he has towards his craft.

“Each sentence should make a clear statement. It should add to the statement that went before….Avoid the abstract. Always go for the concrete.”

The above quote originated from V.S. Naipaul, and Philp’s passion and love for literature was evident during his informative yet entertaining lecture to J Camp students. Philp, whose extensive catalogue of literary work ranges from novels and short stories, to poetry collections, is a gifted public speaker who is able to capture and hold the interest of his audience.

During this session, it became clear Philp’s work is heavily influenced by Caribbean and Latin American elements. Notable Latin American figures that Philp referenced were John Maxwell and V.S. Naipaul, among others. He shared a story chronicling his encounter with Bob Marley on a soccer field in Jamaica. After kicking the ball through Marley’s legs, something Jamaicans consider very disrespectful, a confrontation ensued. Philp and the reggae legend nearly came to blows, however cooler heads prevailed. They later became friends and Philp now considers Marley one of his many influences. His demeanor while telling this tale lit up the room. Philp puffed out his chest in an effort to recreate how he reacted to Marley’s verbal assault. His voice rose when he recounted his fight with Marley and softened when he spoke of the impact he would later have on his life. This painted a vivid picture of his story.

Philp, an English teacher at Miami Dade College and chairperson of the College Prep Department at the North Campus, later displayed his teaching skills, sharing his “Top Ten Tools Every Writer Should Know” with the students. These tools gave students invaluable information on how to become a better writer.

One of his many helpful pieces of advice was to find a mentor.

“The great thing about having a living mentor—breathing the same air in the same room—is that sometimes a casual comment can have a lasting impact.”

Philip also stressed the importance of reading.

“Reading widely will also take you out of your comfort zone and you will meet characters that you wouldn’t ordinary meet, so that when you begin to create your own characters or if you are interviewing someone you can try to see the world from his/her perspective.”

Hearing these pieces of advice from a man who has a wealth of exposure in this field was a priceless experience no J Camp member will soon forget. His full list of helpful tools can be found on his blog (http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/).